For anyone who has a pacemaker and who might be thinking about committing some sort of crime in relation to an arson or something, you might want to think twice because as it turns out, your pacemaker might just implicate you in the crime.

In Middletown, Ohio Mr. Ross Compton was indicted on both arson and insurance fraud charges

after police had a little look at the data that was collected from his pacemaker, as well as you know other evidence that would prove arson.

As it turns out, Ross lied about the fire that consumed his home and because of his pacemaker police were effectively able to file charges against him.

The reason that police were somewhat suspicious; Ross told the police he had noticed a fire had broken out in his home, so naturally he went about packing himself some bags, broke out a window with his cane, tossed his goods out the window and then got out of the home himself then loaded up his car. He also told the police that he had an artificial heart.

Somewhat weary of Ross’s story police obtained a warrant for his pacemaker data and were surprised by the findings which they say just so happens to be key evidence.

The data that was reviewed by the police from the night of the fire according to a cardiologist who reviewed it said that it was “highly improbable” that Ross had hurriedly packed some bags, busted out a window, tossed the bags out, and loaded his car within the said time-frame of the fire and his great escape from said fire.

Pacemaker aside, what really gave the case away was the fact that police found traces of gasoline on Ross’s clothing and shoes.

What’s more is that oddly civil rights advocates are concerned about the use of medical data like what you would find from a pacemaker, in a court case.

They are arguing that people should not have to choose between privacy like committing arson or something and health.